ARM Endorses Open-Source Sensor Platform

San Francisco, Calif. -- Sensor algorithm software company Sensor Platforms Inc. (SPI) is getting into the open-source movement by transforming its internal sensor platform into an open-source platform for sensor hubs. SPI’s Open Sensor Platform (OSP) is aimed at simplifying sensor hubs and data collection, and ARM is on board with the plan.

The framework is designed for "sensor data acquisition, communication, and interpretation" and, SPI says in a white paper, that it is compatible with any CPU architecture or real-time operating system.

"OSP is really important in addressing software complexity," said Willard Tu, director of Embedded Segment Marketing at ARM, in a call with EE Times.

OSP is a framework of algorithms for putting disparate sensors and microprocessors from different manufacturers together to enable them to work together on complex tasks, such as contextual, sensing, pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR), in low power. Developers will be able to use some of the higher-level sensor interpretation that Sensor Platform has in its FreeMotion Library. The intention is to help OEMs avoid the complications of dealing with sensors and sensor hubs. No purchase of FreeMotion is needed.

“We’ve been using this inhouse for years,” said Jim Steele, VP of Engineering, Sensor Platforms, in an interview with EE Times.

“Until now, the use of sensors and sensor hubs in mobile devices has been fragmented and ad hoc,” said Steele in a press release. "OSP encourages developers to focus on creating innovative applications for sensors rather than reinventing the wheel for each sensor interface. It also enables OEMs to provide context-awareness to the Android HAL, which is important for the always-on demands of Android KitKat and Android Wear."